MOUNTING SMALL MAMMALS. 123 



the tail and sew up the opening 1 for about two inches, without 

 catching 1 the hair in your stitches, after which you may boiv 

 two small holes in a pine board, the proper distance apart, puss 

 the two hind leg 1 wires through, and set the little animal up. 

 This is only a trial trip, and if you find the feet are not the 

 proper distance apart (or the squirrel does not walk properly, 

 if you have put him in a walking attitude), or does not sit 

 properly, take him off the board and remedy the defects. 

 AVheii you have corrected his attitude, proceed with the filling, 

 sewing up from both below and above, until the body is prop- 

 erly shaped, filled full of tow, and the opening- entirely sewn 

 up. 



Now comb the tow out of the damp fur, and, if it is dirty, 

 wash it with washing- soda, soap and water until it is thor- 

 oughly clean. Place the animal upon its board pedestal, and 

 correct the attitude with the utmost care before you bend the 

 wires up underneath the board and clinch them fast. If the 

 specimen is even a moderate success thus far, we will go on 

 with it. 



If the animal you are mounting is a tree-climber, and you 

 wish to mount it upon a tree limb, select one for the purpose, 

 and, according to your desire to have it nearly perpendicular, 

 slanting, or horizontal, saw it off at the lower end, plant it 

 firmly upon a rough board pedestal, and fasten it by putting- 

 two long, stout screws thrc-ugh the board and up into the base 

 of the branch. Put your specimen upon the branch as nearly 

 in position as possible, mark the places where the holes should 

 be bored, and bore them with a bit of the proper size. You 

 can then run the ends of the leg- wires throug-h, draw the feet 

 down closely, and clinch the wires on the opposite side. 



As soon as the little animal is firmly fixed on his temporary 

 pedestal, or his branch, which must be permanent, we are ready 

 to give the final touches to the body. We will, with thumb 

 and finger, press in the shoulders if they are too high or wide, 

 flatten the body by pressure if it is too round on the sides, and 

 emphasize the undulating outline of the sides also by pressure. 

 If there is a hollow spot where the surface should be smooth, 

 thrust a sharp awl through the skin, catch some tow on the 

 point of the awl, and, with a sharp lifting motion, pull the fibre 



